The smooth newt is Northern Ireland's only native newt. It is small growing up to a maximum of 10 cm in length. In winter, smooth newts are a drab brown colour and people sometimes confuse them for lizards. Yet, if you look at a smooth newts belly it has an orange or yellow stripe with black spots. These spots are big on males, and small on females. In spring males have a wavy crest along their back and tail, and a bright orange belly.
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